The usual disclaimer stands….sorry it's taken me so long to update but RL is a bitch and the hits just keep coming! My parents have been sick and they are having financial difficulties so my sis and I are having to help them and that has put some financial stress on both of us so it's a vicious circle…LOL…thanks for hanging with me and for the reviews and alerts. There is an end to this story and we will get there I promise. I also promise I won't post any of the sequel "The Baby Deal" until it's finished. I won't string you along on that one…..Lauri
Chapter 28
Gabe and Juan followed me to meet Rachael at Julie's school. We all pulled up at the same time and right as school was letting out. Rachael was giving Gabe and Juan her keys and explaining the garage code when Julie came out and looked around and saw all of us. She froze then ran towards me with a scared look on her face asking me anxiously "Steph did something happen? Is my dad ok? Why are the guys here?"
I pulled her in for a reassuring hug and told her "relax Jules everyone is ok. I had some guys following me but your dad and the guys took care of them along with some help from the Miami PD." I gave her a reassuring hug as Rachael came towards us. Seeing how upset Julie was, Rachael wrapped her in a hug and reaffirmed what I had told her, everyone was fine.
"Ok are ready to go wedding dress shopping?" I asked. Rachael and Julie nodded and smiled. Gabe drove off in Rachael's car with Juan right behind him in a black, Rangeman SUV.
We hopped in the car and headed towards Stella's Bridal shop. The GPS was getting on my nerves so I asked Rachael to give me directions. We arrived at the same time as Mac and McKenzie. As hugs were exchanged I heard McKenzie ask Julie "did you know I get to be a princess at Uncle Carlos' wedding?"
Julie laughed as she picked McKenzie up and hugged her. "Yes I heard that. I get to be in the wedding too did you know that" Julie asked as she set McKenzie back down on the sidewalk.
McKenzie nodded and told her "yeah Aunt Stephie told me you were gonna be her maided on her but I don't know what that means" she said with a slight shrug.
I laughed and squatted down on McKenzie's level and said "Julie is going to be my maid of honor. That is a very special role so the bride picks someone very special to her, just like the flower girl. Julie is very special to me, I love her very much and there isn't anyone else I want to stand beside me as I marry her dad" I told McKenzie with tears in my eyes.
As I stood up Julie wrapped her arms around me and told me "I love you too Steph. I can't wait for you to be my other mom. I don't like the word stepmom, so I'm gonna introduce you as my other mom."
I hugged her as tears streamed down my faced. I looked at Rachael to gage her reaction to Julie's words, but she smiled and hugged us both.
"Relax Steph, Julie and I talked about this last night. You are already close to her and I know you love her so I have no problem sharing mom duty with you. I couldn't ask for a better 'other mom' for my daughter" Rachael said giving me another hug.
I must have looked like I was gonna lose it because I heard Mach's voice as she said "Ok enough of the water works, we're here to buy a wedding dress for a very happy occasion, not flood downtown Miami."
We laughed and wiped our eyes as we headed inside Stella's Bridal Boutique. A bell tinkled above the door as we entered. A curtain parted and I had to do a double take. My eyes must have bugged out of my head as Ella's clone, err twin, laughed and said "you must be Stephanie. I'm Stella, I take it Ella didn't mention we were identical twins" she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Dumbfounded I shook my head no as she pulled me in for a hug. As she pulled back I spotted a dress hanging up behind her and fell in love on the spot. It was MY dress. Voices faded around me as I walked over to get a closer look.
It was a strapless, white satin gown with green ivy embroidered across the bust. It had a dark green band around the waist and it had pleated panels inlaid with green ivy all the way around and it laced up the back!
Stella heard my delighted gasp and smiled. "My sister had great taste does she not" I heard Stella say from behind me. Before I could say a word I heard Ella's voice.
"Steph I knew as soon as I saw it that it was the perfect dress for you."
I spun around and saw Ella's face on the computer smiling ear to ear.
"Oh Ella it is beautiful! It's beyond my wildest expectations. I can't wait to try it on" I said breathlessly. Stella grabbed the dress and pulled me towards a dressing room as she said "well then let's get you into your dress."
I asked Rachael and Mac to start looking around for dresses for their daughters. Stella told them to look at the dresses hanging on the rack right outside the changing room. When I looked at her funny she just grinned and said "I told you my sister has great taste. We took the liberty of picking out some dresses that will compliment your dress. I do hope you don't mind" she said with a sheepish smile.
"I trust Ella and by extension you" I told her as I pulled my sundress over my head and stepped into the pool of white satin she had waiting on me. We discussed whether I'd be able to wear a strapless bra with the dress and then figured out there was support built in and with the lacing on the back I wouldn't be able to wear one anyway.
As she helped me pull the dress up I began to grin from ear to ear. This was defiantly MY dress! I could barely contain my excitement as Stella began the process of lacing up the back of my dress. I kept smoothing my hands down the front of my dress as I barely contained my urge to twirl from side to side. Finally she had it laced up and I gave in to my urge and twirled slowing in front of the 360 degree mirror so I could see every angle of the dress. I had never felt more beautiful than I did at that moment. Tears filled my eyes as I thought of my wedding on Saturday and the look on Carlos' face when he saw me in this dress. Stella's voice brought me out of my day dream.
"Are you ready to go show my sister what a beautiful bride you're going to make" she asked me as she opened the changing room door. I followed her into the salon and heard Ella gasp on the computer screen before her entire face lit up.
"Oh Steph I knew that was your dress when I saw it but it's even more beautiful on you. You are absolutely stunning my dear and Carlos is going to be beyond speechless" Ella said with tears in her eyes.
I grinned at her as I slowly twirled around for her to see from every angle.
"Oh my gosh Steph my dad is gonna die when he see's you in that dress" Julie gushed as she leaned in and hugged me.
"I can't wait to see Carlos' face when he see's you coming down the isle on Saturday, you are gonna rock his world "Rachael told me with a warm grin. "You are gorgeous Steph" she added with a teary eyed smile.
"Aunt Stephie you look like a princess, Uncle Carlos will give you lots of kisses when he see's you" McKenzie said with a big smile.
"You do look gorgeous Stephanie. Carlos won't know what hit him. I for one can't wait for you to render the man speechless" Mac said with a laugh.
"Thank you guys for being here with me. Ella I wish you could be here with us" I said looking at all of them with a smile.
"I wish I was there too sweetheart, but Luis and I will be there tomorrow morning. After you are done with Julie's appointment we will get together with Mishelle and finalize the menu. We also need to make the final call on the cake filling so I can get started on those first thing Thursday morning" Ella said clapping her hands in delight.
Stella motioned for me to stand up on a platform in the middle of the room so she could check the length of the dress. Since I wasn't wearing shoes I wanted to make sure the dress wouldn't drag the ground. I want to be able to pass it down to my girls, if I ever have any.
As if reading my mind, damned ESP must run in the family, Julie looked at me with a shy smile and said "do you think I could wear your dress when I get married Steph"?
With a watery smile I told my very beautiful daughter from another mother that I would be honored if she wore my dress. I looked at Rachael to make sure my offer didn't offend her in any way.
Rachael laughed while wiping away her tears and said "if she wants to borrow a dress then it would have to be yours. Carlos and I got married at City Hall and Ron and I eloped to the Bahamas and got married in shorts on the beach".
"If I would have had months to plan and worry about all the little details we would have done the same thing. This way I don't have a ton of details to worry about. Actually thanks to Ella and her wonderful family I don't have hardly any details to worry about. I'm marrying the man of my dreams on a beach at sunset, getting a beautiful daughter and doing it while surrounded by family and friends. I'm a very lucky woman" I said smiling at all of the people gathered around me.
Stella didn't have to make any alterations to my dress. Julie asked me how I was going to wear my hair right as 2 beautiful latina women walked in the door carrying several bags and a box.
Stella said "ahhh Maria, Ava right on time. I would like to introduce you to our beautiful bride, Stephanie. Steph this is Luis' sister Maria and her lovely daughter Ava".
I shook their hands and told them it was a pleasure to meet them. Maria grinned and assured me the pleasure was all theirs.
"After hearing about the lovely young woman that had stolen Carlos' heart, then hearing about your adventures while bounty hunting, I am thrilled to be a part of your wedding. You look beautiful in your dress. Carlos won't know what hit him" Maria said with a grin.
Ava smiled shyly at me and asked "did you have an idea of how you want to wear your hair"?
"Not really. Carlos likes it down but I think this dress calls for an updo" I told her with a little shrug.
"I'm also not sure I want a veil since we will be outside on the beach" I added.
She smiled and walked around behind me. She gathered my hair into a loose updo. Maria opened the box she was carrying and pulled out a gorgeous diamond studded tiara and placed it in front of my pile of curls. I knew this was the perfect look to go with my dress.
"Oh wow aunt Stephie you look just like a princess" McKenzie breathed in awe.
"You look perfect Steph. I can't wait to see you walk down the isle on Saturday" Ella told me with a grin.
"OMG I've never owned a tiara or even had the desire to wear one but I'm in love with this one. I really feel like a princess" I said as I burst into tears as the past few days caught up to me.
Mac walked up to me and wrapped me in a hug, rubbing my back as she said "Steph just let it all out. You have had a rough few days and you deserve a good cry".
Julie and McKenzie looked like they were going to burst into tears too. I gathered them to me in a big hug as I told them "it's ok girls, these are happy tears, I promise. Don't be upset, I'm just overwhelmed by all the things going on this week. Now how about I change out of my dress and we find you girls a dress to wear. I'm thinking that you two need a tiara also. I bet Stella has something for us to look at" I told them while looking Stella's way.
"Of course my dear" she said leading Julie, Mac and McKenzie to the rack outside the dressing room.
I asked Rachael to help me change as I walked into the dressing room. She began to unlace my dress while giving me a wicked smile in the mirror. "Carlos is going to enjoy getting you out of this dress Steph".
I blushed as the wonderful thoughts ran thru my mind but told her "I hope so".
"You need to get some beyond sexy lingerie to go under your dress. Think of it as a reward for Carlos for all of the work it will take him to get you out of it" she said laughing.
I must have had an uncomfortable look on my face because she came around in front of me with a serious expression. "I know it's weird talking to the ex-wife about these things but trust me Steph you are the best thing that has happened to Carlos. I'm fond of him because he's my daughter's dad, but what we had is nothing compared to the love you and him have. I'm very happy he found you. I found the love of my life and now so has he had done the same" she told me as we hugged.
"Thank you" I choked out as we pulled apart.
"Now let's get you changed so we can find the girls something to wear" she said as I wiped my tears.
Rachael hung my dress up for me as I put my clothes back on and we headed back into the salon. I turned around and gave my beautiful dress one last loving look. I hated to leave it behind but I knew Stella would take good care of it and I didn't want to take any chances on Carlos seeing it before Saturday.